PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a typical scavenger, feeding exclusively on carcasses of medium- and large-sized animals. It has a large breeding range, extending over Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. In Italy, the griffon vulture is still included in the IUCN Red List as critically endangered with the last natural population persisting on the island of Sardinia. Exchanges of mainland griffon vulture populations among breeding areas have not been quantified, yet evidence (telemetry, leg-band reading) shows they move extensively both at a country scale and abroad, being connected with populations in Croatia, France, and Spain. In the last years, the conservation status of the griffon vulture population increased thanks to the implementation of the project LIFE Under Griffon Wings (LIFE14 NAT/IT/000484) aimed at mitigating the main threats (food shortage, poisoning) in the north-western part of the island and by implementing a restocking programme. However, the project area of LIFE Under Griffon Wings is limited to a few Natura 2000 sites in north-west Sardinia. Thus, under current conditions, the expected increase in population size will likely lead to high mortality rates among dispersing birds, considering that in central, eastern and southern Sardinia the main threats have not been addressed. The long-term conservation of the Sardinian population of griffon vultures is pivotal also to allow the development of a wider conservation plan to restore the vultures on the island.
OBJECTIVES
The main aim of the LIFE SAFE for VULTURES project is to take the first steps to conserve the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) over the entire island of Sardinia.
Specific objectives are to:
Enlarge the area of occupancy of griffon vultures and increase its carrying capacity by: a) enlarging the area in which farm feeding stations (FFS) can be activated, by updating the regional legislation to increase the number of Natura 2000 sites in which farm feeding stations can be authorised; and b) creating a second nucleus of griffon vultures in south Sardinia (over 100 km distance away from the main colony);Mitigate the risk of poisoning events;Encourage a transition towards lead-free ammunition in ungulate hunting to mitigate the risk of lead poisoning; and Reduce the risks of collision with energy infrastructures and electrocution;Increase public awareness on the importance of griffon vultures and their acceptance in the new sites.
RESULTS
Expected results:
Increased population size of griffon vulture, from 230 individuals (2019) to 400 individuals in 2026;Restored pastureland ecosystems in Sardinia by reintroducing the presence of livestock carcasses in the fields: a minimum of 21 000 kilos of biomass/year will be disposed in the farm feeding stations;Enlarged vulture feeding zone, from approximately 51 163 ha to 315 000 ha (264 000 ha more);Link created between the main colony and the new nucleus, by marking out the corridor with the activation of 30 farm feeding stations;Dissemination of the good practices developed in the authorisation procedure and management of the farm feeding stations in Italy, to boost their replication;Investigation of cases of wildlife poisoning, with double the number of reported cases: the anti-poison dog units will perform at least 480 preventive inspections in the field and patrol at least 24 00 km in the project area;Take to court one case of wildlife poisoning;Submit the proposal for a Regional Law against the illegal use of poison to the Sardinian government for its approval;Increase the awareness of the risk of lead intoxication for human/wildlife health in at least 250 hunters;Mitigate the impact of energy infrastructures on birds by securing 20 km of conductor wires (7% of the total km) and 50 power poles (2% of the total poles) against bird collision and electrocution in the vulture priority areas;Secure and transport at least 50 griffon vultures to Sardinia and create a new population nucleus in south Sardinia;Extend the geographical range of griffon vultures to central, eastern and southern Sardinia and double their area of occupancy;Integrate an important roosting and foraging area for griffon vultures in the Natura 2000 sites; and Draft a conservation plan for the griffon vulture and other scavengers in Sardinia, and obtain its approval by the competent authorities.
